Seeds of Q. robur were collected from a large tree at the nursery of the Horticulture Research Station at Kanater, Egypt, in September 1989 and 1990. After removing the outer pericarp, 9 treatments were applied to the seeds before germination testing: no treatment (control); GA3 at 100 or 200 p.p.m. for 24 h; low temperature (5 degrees C) for 2 or 4 wk; and GA3 at 100 or 200 p.p.m. + 2 or 4 wk at 5 degrees C.